The transplant

A successful transplant not only requires matched bone marrow but a patient who is healthy enough to have a transplant. Your doctor will determine whether you should have a transplant, by considering your general physical condition, your diagnosis and the stage of your disease.

Your doctor and treatment team will give you detailed information about the transplant procedure. In short, the healthy stem cells are infused into your bloodstream in a procedure that takes place in your hospital room.

In a successful transplant the new bone marrow migrates to the cavities of the large bones, engrafts and begins producing normal blood cells. It may take 3-4 weeks for the new bone marrow to engraft and begin producing healthy blood cells.

You will stay in hospital until the new bone marrow is producing enough healthy new red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. It usually takes 4-8 weeks before your immune system is able to defend itself against infection and bleeding.